In a February 26 article, The Washington Post advanced the falsehood -- pushed by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) -- that a provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act directs that funding be provided for a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Discussing the upcoming special election to fill the House seat vacated by newly appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), staff writer Keith B. Richburg reported that "[s]elf-described Republicans" in Gillibrand's former district “were mostly opposed to [the recovery bill], out of concern about adding to the deficit and what they called 'pork' projects -- several mentioned a potential high-speed rail line from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.” In fact, the bill does not direct high-speed rail funds to any specific project, and any funding would be allocated by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman.

The statute states that $8 billion shall remain available for the “Secretary of Transportation” for “projects that support the development of intercity high speed rail service” and that the secretary shall “submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a strategic plan that describes how the Secretary will use the funding provided under this heading to improve and deploy high speed passenger rail systems.” The Joint Explanatory Statement of the Conference Report on the recovery bill further states of the high-speed rail program: “The conferees have provided the Secretary flexibility in allocating resources between the programs to advance the goal of deploying intercity high speed rail systems in the United States.”

As Media Matters for America previously noted, several Fox News hosts and contributors have furthered this false high-speed rail claim.

From the February 26 Washington Post article:

But this generally conservative, gun-loving district, filled with hunters and sportsmen, lately has been defying past trends. Gillibrand was handily reelected in November, and Obama beat Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) here in the presidential election. Hillary Rodham Clinton also did well here in her Senate campaigns.

And this year, the Republicans are dealing with two other factors that scramble the traditional calculus: Obama's popularity, and the economic stimulus bill, which many people are hoping will bring money and jobs.

[...]

At Snyder's restaurant, and elsewhere in Halfmoon, opinions about the stimulus plan were more divided. Self-described Republicans were mostly opposed to it, out of concern about adding to the deficit and what they called “pork” projects -- several mentioned a potential high-speed rail line from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. But those calling themselves independent were willing to give the stimulus the benefit of the doubt.

“I watch the news. My feeling is, it's necessary,” said Norman Goldman, a retired state government worker who was enjoying a plate of eggs and toast at Synder's. “It's unprecedented,” he said. “I just hope it works.”

Speaking of the stimulus package, Goldman said, “Bush and the Republicans gave us the banking thing. It's hard to believe how ideologically they can be against the stimulus, given the shape the nation is in. Leading economists and others say this is the thing we need to do. I would have urged any of my representatives to vote for it.”

However, Bruce Tanski, who owns Snyder's and also works in real estate, had a different view. “I'm a die-hard Republican,” said Tanski, who has known Tedisco for 20 years and is supporting him. “I think the stimulus bill is a joke because a couple of years down the road, our money is going to be worth zero.”